Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Pool Safety is Important Year-round

As summer draws to a close we may not be spending as much time out by the pool, but it’s important to remember that throughout the year, pools are a potential hazard for homeowners and should be protected with the proper fencing and other safety equipment. Local building codes include very specific requirements for pool safety in terms of fencing, gates, and door alarms in an attempt eliminate drowning incidents. Drowning is the leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 4 in Arizona, and is the second-leading cause of unintentional, injury-related death among children under the age of 15.

Pool barrier code varies from city to city in the Phoenix metro area, so homeowners should familiarize themselves with their local ordinances. Homeowners have a number of options for protecting their families and keeping their pool areas safe. A permanent, galvanized and powder-coated steel pool fence can be a beautiful part of your property landscaping, while keeping your pool area safely secured when it is unsupervised. These fences can be custom built to match your home and installed to enhance your existing landscaping features.

Those that don’t have children in the home or want the convenience of a removable fence can consider a pool barrier system. These systems come in a variety of colors and can be used indoors or out, wherever a barrier is needed. They can be taken down and stored when not in use.

Be sure to comply with your local code for pool safety, but more importantly, remember to supervise children at all times because a child can drown in the time it takes to answer the phone. Installing pool fencing is the next important step to take in keeping your family safe around the pool all year long.